The Abramoff effect clearly travels further than many in the Administration and Congress would like to admit, and we're learning more every day as more facts are made public. This only adds to the need for real reform of the ethics rules in Congress, and for a genuine stand by our representatives in both chambers to demand more transparency in the government generally.

Oversight is a key responsibility of Congress, and so far they have neglected it. Officials continue to pretend that the best way to ensure integrity in our political system is through criminal investigation, rather than personal responsibility for their own house. They can not expect to maintain credibility through inaction to protect the status quo.